Road to Toronto: Latest news on all ICC Trophy First Division countries plus others

Italian cricket supremo, Simone Gambino, is not someone who could be said to feel pressured to be conformist.

So it is only natural that the Federazione Cricket Italiana (Italian Cricket Association) should be the first country to name its final 14 man squad for the ICC Trophy in June, July in Toronto, Canada.

Some three weeks ahead of the International Cricket Council's deadline for submitting the final 14, the FCI has announced a squad which includes Lancashire and former Sheffield Shield all-rounder, Joe Scuderi.

The squad is captained by Italian domestic league veteran, Kamal Karyiyawasam and also Hobart-based Peter Di Venuto, brother of former Australian One Day International representative, Michael Di Venuto.

The squad is: Kamal Karyiyawasam (Captain), Valerio Zuppirioli (Vice-captain), Alessandro Bonora, Andrea Corbellari, Samantha De Mel, Peter Di Venuto, Benito Giordano, Hemanta Jayasena, Riccardo Maggio, Warren Mazzoncini, Andrea Parisi, Akhlaq Qureshi, Joe Scuderi, Aamir Shah. Coach - Doug Ferguson.

Meanwhile, there's nothing like a milestone in the countdown to a major event to add both a sense of anticipation and cause those involved to assess their preparation.

This Saturday's deadline for the competing teams of the ICC Trophy to submit their preliminary 25 man squads is sure to bring home the reality that the start of cricket's biggest gathering of national teams is just over two months away.

For many of the individual players, most of whom are amateurs, the next three weeks will be the most uneasy wait of their careers. as countries meet the May 15 expiry date of announcement of their final 14 man squads.

All things going well, 'Beyond The Test World' will continue, as it has in this edition, a fortnightly roundup on ICC Trophy news from all 12 First Division countries, as well as various Second Division teams.

Meanwhile, if you are planning to visit Toronto for the tournament, your best source of news is toronto.com, an excellent reference for info relating to hotels etc and how to get around the city. It has just about everything you would want to know about Toronto (that is legal!).

Division One
GROUP A -
Scotland: When South African Universities batsman, Darryl Anderson, arrives in Scotland next week, it will be his first visit 'home' since he left as a wee three year old 18 years ago. The early and middle order batsman played for his place of birth in its recent visit to Namibia. The Scots will play one-dayers, against Northamptonshire (May 4), against Derbyshire May 5 (the same day they announce their final 14) and Durham (May 11). Confidence will be further boosted by James Brinkley's opening CricInfo County Championship bowling for Durham last weekend taking 6-32 against Gloucestershire, including 5-19 in 22 deliveries). You can read the Scottish Director of Cricket, Jim Love's, impressions on how his team went on the short visit to the Kalahari and the strength of the Namibian team in the current edition of 'Beyond The Test World'; Coaching staff - Jim Love and Mike Hendrick. Netherlands: Possibly the favourites two months out, the Dutch will name their final 14 in the week preceding the May 15 deadline. As previously reported, will spend a week in Barbados, arriving in Bridgetown around June 20, taking advvantage of turf wickets and a time zone similar to Toronto's.Coach - Emmerson Trotman Canada: Joe Harris' team's preparation for the the Trophy has been bolstered by news of the strengthening of its itinerary of the tour to Sri Lanka, with matches against Sri Lanka 'A'. The Cricket Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka has been very hepful to the Canadian Cricket Association. While the squad had no problems with last year's coach, Andy Kirsten, it is believed to be happy to have back 1999 coach, Jeff Thomas, who will join the squad in Sri Lanka. Will have to do without Victorian off-spinner, John Davison, who will rejoin the team in Toronto. Coach - Jeff Thomas. United Arab Emirates: The mostly locally born squad has been training weekly under Asian Cricket Council assigned coach, Naeed Anjum. Will name the required short list of 25 by this Friday. Will leave for England in the first week of June for a seven match tour. The final 14 will similarly be named on the May 15 deadline. Coach - Naeed Anjum. FijiWill hold the first of three training camps for the 25 man squad already named starting this Saturday. All to be held in Suva, the first two over three days, the second from May 18-20th and the third, a week long live-in camp in June, at which National Coach, Neil Maxwell, is expected to attend. The Fiji Cricket Association is expected to ask ICC Trophy Tournament Director, Clive Hitchcock, for permission to extend the deadline for naming its final 14 from May 15 to May 20.to allow for final assessment of players at the second camp. Coach - Neil Maxwell. Singapore:Hosting the Indian Under 19 squad next month. Has been boosted by the news of the eligibility of three players who have performed well for the national team in recent 'internationals'. Zubin Schroff, a top order right hand batsman, leg spinner, Sandeep Seth, and wicketkeeper/batsman, N.Balasubramaniam, will add experience to a youthful side. Coach - Bruce Yardley. GROUP B - Ireland: The Irish countdown for the ICC Trophy eeffectively begins this weekend when its top 22 cricketers will play in a trial match this weekend. The team will play four matches in England in June, three against the Marylebone Cricket Club and an Arundel XI. The final 14 will be named on May 12.Coach - Ken Rutherford Denmark: The Danes are likely to have the most low key buildup of the main contendersn for the three World Cup qualifying places in South Africa. The national squad is having weekly practice sessions, culminating in two games at home against local opposition just prior to departure. Will probably be the latest of the 24 countries to arrive, just two days before the event opens on June 28. "We are not a wealthy organisation and the Board decided it was better to keep the team here since it is not possible to play practice matches on turf wicket before it starts," Danish coach, Ole Mortensen, explained. The former Derbyshire tyro go fly out to Toronto about a fortnight ahead of the squad to assess the grounds, logistics, etc. You can slso read what Ole had to say about the Danish team's tour around the Cape Town area earlier this month in the current edition of BTTW. Coach - Ole Mortensen. Hong KongWill name their final 14 late this week. Newly appointed coach Andy Moles arrives in the middle of May, where the squad will go into camp. A week later the team will stop over in Vancouver, British Columbia a couple of game against local sides before arriving in Toronto around June 26. Coach - Andy Moles Bermuda Believed to be naming their final 14 this Sunday. Have been training regularly under coiach Roland Butcher, who arrived on the island at the start of April. Have matches against the Malylebone Cricket Club early next month. Coach - Roland Butcher United States The 'Americans' are expected to cull their present 25 squad down to the requried 14 by May 13, at the conclusion of a three day camp in Los Angeles. The US will arrive in Toronto about a week beforehand for the prerequsite team bonding, etc, as well as at least one match against a local side. US Cricket Association official, Kamran Khan, said he was genuinely impressed by the ability shown by 52 players who attended trials in LA recently. "I believe with the talent we have we will do well." Coach - Syed Abid Ali Papua-New Guinea Will be announcing their final 14 this Friday, with Allan David overseeing the training of the likely 11 Port Moresby based players, and national coach, William Maha, handling the Lae based trio. The entire squad will assemble in Moresby for a week long camp, before departing for Toronto on June 22. Has practice matches on June 25, 26. Mr. Maha said the new format for the First Division meant the team would have to 'hit the ground running.' Coach - William Maha SECOND DIVISION

Namibia: After having good hit outs against the visiting Marylebone Cricket Council and Scotland teams, the favourites to qualify from Group A of the Second Division now go into a hiberation of sorts. With the Namibian summer having passed, the Namibians will concentrate on skills and fitness training. Will name a squad of 18 this weekend before trimming it to 14 on the ICC deadline. Coach - Lenny Louw Nepal:As you can read elsewhere in this editiion, are currently playing the Jai Trophy, the Kingdom's national tournament, which will serve as the selection trial for Toronto. The squad will be named after the tournament final. Coach - Aftab Baloch Group B- Malaysia:Having just completed a three match sereis against Pakistan Under 19s, the team expected to qualify from Group B of the Second Division is hoping to make a 12 day trip to Mumbai just before the Trophy. If not, will leave for Canada on June 17, stopping off in Vancouver for match practice. Coach - Lindsay Walker